Get to know members of Brant County Council

The County of Brant has published an online directory of who’s who on Brant County Council. You can follow this link to learn more about the elected Councillors and Mayor. Click on the “Meet” box below each member’s profile picture and it will lead you to a short introductory video.

Be a Lion in Paris! Lions Club open house this month

Submitted by Lion Diane McHutchion

Your Paris Lions Club held its first meeting close to 100 years ago on March 16, 1931. The Club's first major project was the creation of Lions Park. This Park is the most visible and constantly updated project in our community with the most recent major refurbishment being the Pete Lavoie Ball Diamonds.

Throughout all the decades since the 1930s, your Paris Lions Club has volunteered tirelessly to improve our community through local projects, while donating funds to a variety of causes such as Diabetes Research, Guide Dog Training, and Research Vision Training, to improve the health and well-being of our local citizens. Our motto "We Serve" guides us in all we do. We invite you to be a member of the Paris Lions Club to experience in person what our motto means You will meet Lions who are both community-minded and dedicated citizens of our great town

We look forward to meeting you at our Open House on Tuesday, February 28 at the Paris Fairgrounds at 7 pm.

Do you know a senior that could use a little cheering up?

Local organization is preparing Compassion Care Packages for senior citizens feeling isolated – you can nominate someone now

By Casandra Turnbull

A program aimed to help the most vulnerable citizens in our community is gearing up to deliver some hope and love this Valentine’s Day. Delivered by Move with Compassion, an organization that helps senior citizens who don’t have a lot of family or support in the area, move and get set up in their new surroundings, launched an additional program/service during the pandemic called Compassion Care. It’s purpose is to let seniors know they are not alone. Several times a year, generally around the holidays, Compassion Care volunteers collect and donate care packages to seniors, filled with practical household items and delivered to their doors with a smile.

“The idea came about during Covid when our company, Move with Compassion, was called many times to fill in the gap of families who were not allowed to visit their loved ones, let alone assist them with moves,” explained founder Rola Berger. “We saw how lonely and broken some seniors were, many were craving a note, an interaction or assurance that they were still heard and cared for.”

Rola operates Move with Compassion alongside her husband David and a team of dedicated workers The Berger family moved five times in the last 8 years so they know how tiring it can be and the toll it takes on any person, especially seniors. The Move with Compassion team has over 20 years in pastoral care and 10 years as Move Manager Specialists which equips them with both the knowledge and experience to

Berger with a local resident after she received a Compassion Care Package. To the left, examples of items in the care packages complete every move professionally and compassionately.

As Christmas approached during the first year of the pandemic, Rola and David started brainstorming ways to reach out to seniors in isolation.

“David and I started thinking of ways or putting simple care packages together to be delivered personally to seniors with a note to encourage them We put the idea out on Facebook and had 30 individuals reach out to nominate a senior and a handful of others who wanted to donate,” recalls Rola

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The success of the program led to an expansion in 2021 when Move with Compassion partnered with Kars Natural Kreation and they were able to raise donations to create 50 care packages. Now, volunteers are actively working to collect donations and create Valentine’s Day care packages that will be delivered February 12 & 13. They are looking for a variety of items from playing cards and magnifying glasses to instant oatmeal, coffee, granola bars and even household items like dish soap, toiletries, crafts and even chocolate to satisfy the sweet tooth!

If you do not have the financial means to donate, Rola said you can still get involved by making Valentine’s Day cards or offering to help donate packages to seniors

“While life has returned to some normal for many of us, many seniors are still feeling the weight of Covid. They are scared to leave their home, they are not sure how the world looks outside, they have been isolated from the families so long that some have lost that touch forever. These compassion packages have been a ray of hope in many people’s lives ” The response from seniors has been emotional and overwhelming at the same times. During many deliveries, Rola shares a cry with seniors who are grateful for the support and acknowledgement.

“The answer at the door is always ‘I think you are looking for someone else.’ Knowing that someone is still thinking of them and knowing that many people took part of the care package brings tears and laughter at the same time.”

If you’re looking to contribute to the Compassion Care Packages you can reach Rola at 519-900-2262 or by email to info@movewithcompassion.com. They are currently accepting nominations for seniors who could use a little bit of cheering up this season. You can learn more about Move with Compassion online at https://www.movewithcompassion.com/